Nurse&#39;s surgical cap

ABSTRACT

A ONE-PIECE CAP COMPLETELY COVERS THE HAIR REGARDLESS OF EXTREME VARIATIONS OF HAIR STYLE. THE BLANK FROM WHICH THE CAP IS FABRICATED HAS AN ENLARGED MAIN BODY PORTION AND AN INTEGRAL BAND PORTION HAVING LATERALLY EXTENDING TIES. AN ELASTIC IS FASTENED AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE MAIN BODY PORTION, GATHERING THE SAME TOGETHER IN A SNOOD-LIKE POUCH. THE CAP IS APPLIED BY INSERTING THE HAIR AT THE BACK OF THE NECK INTO THE SNOOD-LIKE POUCH AND DRAWING THE CAP UP OVER THE TOP OF THE HEAD AND DOWN OVER THE FOREHEAD, THEN DRAWING THE BAND BACK TO ENVELOPE THE HAIR AT THE SIDES OF THE HEAD, THUS COMPLETELY COVERING THE HAIR, AND TYING THE ENDS OF THE TIES BEHIND THE BACK OF THE HEAD. ADJUSTABILITY FOR HEIGHT OF THE CAP IS   ACHIEVED BY THE BAND, WHICH MAY EXTEND DOWN OVER THE FOREHEAD OR BE FOLDED UP EITHER ENTIRELY OR PARTIALLY. ALTERNATIVELY, THE ELONGATED TIES MAY BE REPLACED WITH BINDING TAPE.

Jan. 19, 1971 zlMMON ETAL 3,555,565

NURSESSURGICAL CAP Filed June 50 1967 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VENTOR HAROLD .4. Z/MMON y DEE L. STROM ATTORNEY Jan. 19, .1971 H. ZIIMMON ET AL 3,555,565

NURSE'S SURGICAL CAP Filed June 30, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VENTOR. HA ROL D Z/MMO/V DEE L. .STROM ATTORNEY r 19, 1.971 I Z|MMON ETAL 3,555,565

NURSE S SURGICAL CAP Filed June 30, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR; HAROLD A. Z/MMO/V By 055 L. .STROM 7w 4, AN

ATTORNEY Ja n. 19,1971 ZfMMQN ETAL 3,555,565

NURSES SURGICAL CAP Filed June 30, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

INVENTOR. HAROLD A. Z/MMO/V BY DEE L. STROM ATTORNEY 3,555,565 NURSES SURGICAL CAP Harold Zimmon, Los Altos Hills, and Dee L. Strom,

Sunnyvale, Calif. (both Zimmon & Company, Inc.,

215 ONeill Ave., Belmont, Calif. 94002) Filed June 30, 1967, Ser. No. 650,521 Int. Cl. A42!) 1/16 U.S. Cl. 2198 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A one-piece cap completely covers the hair regardless of extreme variations of hair style. The blank from which the cap is fabricated has an enlarged main body portion and an integral band portion having laterally extending ties. An elastic is fastened around the perimeter of the main body portion, gathering the same together in a Snood-like pouch. The cap is applied by inserting the hair at the back of the neck into the Snood-like pouch and drawing the cap up over the top of the head and down over the forehead, then drawing the band back to envelope the hair at the sides of the head, thus completely covering the hair, and tying the ends of the ties behind the back of the head. Adjustability for height of the cap is achieved by the band, which may extend down over the forehead or be folded up either entirely or partially. Alternatively, the elongated ties may be replaced with binding tape.

One important feature of this invention is the fact that regardless of extreme hair style variations, the adaptability of this cap enables it to be applied in such manner as to completely cover the hair. It will be understood that some hair styles produce a fullness at the top of the head and this may be enhanced by curls or even artificial hair pieces. Other styles produce a fullness at the back of the neck. The present cap will cover these and other styles and even cover curlers and rollers. Thus stocking different cap sizes is avoided.

A further advantage of the invention is the fact that the hair is not mussed when the cap is applied, worn or removed. This feature of the invention even enables the cap to be put to an alternative use-to hold the hair in place while sleeping.

A still further feature of the invention is the fact that it is readily applied by the wearer and stays in position once it is tied in place. When in position the cap has a neat, professional appearance.

The construction of the cap is such that there are no elastic bands or ties fitting across the forehead or over the ears, such as commonly used in other caps. Hence this cap is more comfortable to wear. The cap is light in weight, which also improves the comfort of wearing the same.

One additional advantage of the invention is that bangs are covered and, further, are held in normal position against the forehead. Other caps have elastic or ties which tend to pull the lower edge of the cap upward along the forehead, which in turn tends to curl the bangs upward. This undesirable result is avoided by the present invention.

A principal feature of the invention is the fact that it is constructed of a single piece of material in simple fabricating operations, thereby reducing manufacturing and material costs.

United States Patent O An important feature of the invention is that its low cost of material and fabrication permits it to be used as a disposable cap which is discarded after surgery is completed. Accordingly, laundry expense is eliminated. On the other hand, the cap may be made of more durable material and re-used. When made of fabric, the cap may be washed and/ or sterilized.

Still another feature of the invention is the shape of the blank from which it is formed. By alternating the directions of adjacent blanks the bands and main body portions interfit, achieving great economy in use of material.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the front showing the cap in place with the band down.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cap of FIG. 1 from the rear.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are, respectively, views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the band partially folded up.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the band folded fully up.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cap of FIG. 1 prior to application.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a blank from which the cap is fabricated shown prior to the application of the elastic band.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a web of material showing how a plurality of blanks in accordance with FIG. 8 interfit to achieve economy of material and fabrication.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective 'view of an edge of the cap showing elastic stitched to the margin of the main body portion.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 3 of a modification.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 7, of the modification of FIGS. 11 and 12.

The present invention comprises a one-piece cap which may be fabricated from a variety of materials. In a preferred form of the invention the cap is disposable after a single use and for such purpose may be made of a nonwoven cellulose fabric or a yarn-reinforced cellulose, paper or inexpensive cloth. Particularly where sterility is not essential, the cap may be re-used and in such circumstances the material may be more durable, such as thicker paper or cloth. Where repeated use is desired, and particularly where the cap is sterilized between uses, a lightweight canvas-like fabric may be used.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-10, the cap is intended for single use and the ends of the band are used to hold the cap in place. Where a more durable cap is desired, one longitudinal edge of the band may be reinforced with tapes as shown in FIGS. 11-13, and the extended length of the tapes used as ties. In the latter instance, the band is shorter than in the modification of FIGS. l-lO In other respects the two modifications of the invention are essentially the same.

As viewed in FIG. 8, the blank from which the cap is fabricated has an enlarged main body portion 11 having an arcuate bottom edge 12 of a large radius having its center at about point at the top or portion 11 and having upward-outward slanted side edges 13 disposed at an angle of about 85 to the horizontal. Slits 16- are formed at the top of portion 11 slanted downwardly-inwardly at an angle of about 15 to define the top of main body portion 11. The inner terminal points 18 of each slit 16 are spaced apart about six inches. Above slits 16 and points 18 is band 17 having elongated triangular points 19 defined by upward, outward slits 16 and the top horizontal edge 22 of the blank beyond sides 13 are lower edges 21 which are extensions of slits 16. The extremities 24 of points 19 are considerably outwardly disposed relative to the points 23 of intersection of edges 13 and 21. Band 17 and main body portion 11 are joined together between the points 18. Preferably the grain of the material extends horizontally as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 8, since this provides the greatest strength to resist the stresses to which the cap is later subjected. The blank of FIG. 8 may be readily fabricated from a web of material with great economy of material, as shown in FIG. 9. Parallel sides 26 represent the side edges of a long web of material of which the blanks are formed. In actual practice many layers of material may be stacked and all layers cut in a single cutting action. The pattern of blanks 3111-31f is shown, blanks 31a and 31b being the uppermost. The curved edges 12 of these two blanks are tangent an the edges 22 coincide with web edges 26 or are closely adjacent thereto. Upper points 19 of blanks 31a and 31b extend to or adjacent the upper edge of the web. The lower side 13 of blank 31a coincides with the upper side 13 of blank 31c. Edges 22 of blanks 31c and 31d coincide. The edges 12 of blanks 31c and 31d are tangent to opposite edges 26 of the web. Upper points 19 of blanks 31c and 31d extend to the point of tangency of edges 12, 12 of blanks 31a, 31b. The lower points 19 of blanks 31c, 31d extend to the point of tangency of edges 12, 12 of blanks 31c, 31 Blanks 31e, 31] are oriented in the same direction as blanks 31a, 31!), respectively, while blanks 31c, 31d intermediate the aforementioned four blanks are oriented 180 in the opposite direction.

The foregoing alternation of blanks accomplishes considerable economy of material. Other than the extreme ends of the web, almost all of the material is used, as is clear from FIG. 9.

After the blank has been cut, a piece of elastic 32 is fastened to the edges 12 and 13, commencing at the points 23 where edges 13 and 14 intersect and extending the entire length of both sides 13 and the bottom edge 12. Elastic 32 may be applied by over-stitching 33, or by other means. After the elastic 32 is applied, the edges 13 and 12 are gathered together in tucks 34 or folds and reduced in length as best shown in FIG. 7, so that the distance be tween the points 23-23 is considerably less than in the blank. Generally the back of the cap assumes the form of a pouch or snood 35. FIG. 7 shows the final assembly of the cap prior to installation on the head.

In use, the cap is very versatile in thatit may be adjusted to fit various head sizes and, also importantly, to accommodate a Wide variety of hair styles even when curlers and rollers are applied' to the hair and' yet completely cover all .of the hair, a. necessity in. surgical use. In applying the cap, the bottom back edge 36 is tucked under the back of the .hair an d against the back of the neck of the wearer. All of the back hair is inserted in the pouch or snood, as is best shown in FIG. 3. Thereupon the main vbodj portion 211 isdrawn'up over the top of the head and down on the forehead to cover all hair at the front'Careful examination of FIGS." 1, 4 and 6 will show that the'volume ofthe hair on the head varies. In FIG; 6, the hair is v'ery'spar'seand flat, especially on the top of the head, while in FIG. 1 .thehair is piled high at the top of the head. In-FIG. 4, the hair is of intermediate height-The positioning of band. 17 accommodates any of the hair styles. Thus in the flat style of FIG. 6, band 17 is folded straight up to overlap the front of portion 11 and the, points 19 are drawn back above the level of the ears and tied in a knot 37 at the back of the head. The points 19 cover the hair at theside of the head. It will be noted that the bottom forward edge 38 of FIG. 1 is just above or at the level 'of the eyebrows.

In FIG. 1, band 17 isnot folded up at all so that the edge 22 is bottommost and ateyebrow level. Hence even with a high hair style, all thehair is completely covered. As shown in FIG. 2 the. hair style includesbangs. Note that the bangs are held in normal position against the forehead and that there is notendencyIof lower edge 22 to curl the bangs upward..In. FI G S. l-3 ,the.fullness of the hair style includes curls on top of the .hea dfEven'hair pieces, curlers or rollers may be adequately covered.

In FIG. 4, band 17 is partially but not completely folded back so that the bottom 38a of the fold is at eyebrow level. In this position, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the hair is low at the crown of the head but full at the back of the neck. j, t I

In any of its positions,.the cap is neat and professional in appearance and remains securely in covering condition.

The form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1l-13 is quite similar to that of the preceding modification, except that the ends of the band 17 are shorter, being terminated at lines 41 of FIG. 8. The edge 22a of FIG. 13 is reinforced by a folded-over tape 42; and the ends 43 of the tape extend beyond the band and are used as-ties. In other respects the construction of the cap, FIGS. 11- 13, is essentially the same and corresponding portions are identified with the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1-10 followed by the subscript (1..

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail, by way of. illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding,. it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention and-scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cap for completely enclosing the hair of the wearer and adjustable for a variety of hair styles, said cap formed of a single piece of foldable sheet material and comprising a main body portion and a band having a juncture adjacent the center of the front edge of said body and defined laterally of the center by slits extending inward toward said center but terminating with the inner ends of said slits spaced apart a distance about equal to the width of the human forehead, said band joined to said main body portion continuously between the inner ends of said slits, said band having lateral extremities, said band being foldable upwardly and rearwardly along any selected line extending lengthwise of said band to vary the extent of overlap between said band and body and to locate a lower edge portion of said band against a wearers forehead directly beneath the hair, said body portion having a curved back edge of extended length, and an elastic fixed to at least a portion of the perimeter of said back edge for gathering said back edge together to form a Snood-like pouch at the back of said cap, said pouch extending rearward and downward to fit under the back hair of the wearer and said backed'ge of 'said pouch positioned and spaced a distance from'said band to en able said back-edge to lie against the back of the neck,-

around the sides of-the head above the ears and inwardly toward, but spaced outward from, the center ofthex-forehead to about the upper "corners of the forehead, said extre'mities shaped and dimensioned to be drawn around the-sides of the-head above the-ears whereby said cap-enyond the sides of saidjmain' body portion. (References onfollowing page) 5 6 References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 833,431 4/1960 Great Britain 2-207 690,982 1/1902 Morse 2:204 OTHER REFERENCES 1,537,751 5/1925 coolfson 2*198 5 A Pageant of Hats: Ancient and Modern, publication 1,541,810 6/1925 flanylwn 2198X by R. E. Kilgour, published by Robt. M. McBride C0. 1,728,138 9/1929 Robinson 2198 y) p, 1 2 2,336,950 12/1943 Moss 2197 2,435,688 2/1948 Lupo 2- 204X HERBERT F. ROSS, Primary Examiner 2,519,512 8/1950 Stone 21 8X 10 U.S. Cl. XJR.

2,817,090 12/1957 Toellner 2198 2207 

